Shipping box for chicks



Nov. 11, 1930.

R. A. 'GORSUCH SHIPPING BOX FOR CHICKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 7, 1929 0&000

OOOmVO 1930. R. A. GORSUCH SHIPPING BDX FOR CHICKS 3 Sheets-Sheet .2

Filed Jan. '7', 1929 Nov. 11, 1930.

Filed Jar 1. 7, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented Nov. 11, 1930 PATENT OFFICE ROBERT GOBSUCH, OF GAMBIEB, OHIO SHIPPING BOX FOR CHICKS Application filed January 7, 1929. Serial No. 330,772.

This invention relates to shipping boxes and particularly to shipping boxes for baby chicks.

In shipping baby chicks the boxes must be '51 provided with ventilating opening to allow of such boxes are shipped, they are usually piled one on top of the other, so that the holes in the top of the boxes are completely closed b the superimposed box, and when stacked against other boxes the holes in the sides are often completely closed, or so near- ].y closed that the chicks are killed from suffocation or over heating.

It is the object of my invention to provide a shipping box for baby chicks which has spacing members projecting from the walls thereof so that other boxes cannot close the ventilating apertures when they are piled together in shippingrooms or cars.

A further object is to provide a shipping box which may be constructed of suitable card board or corrugated paper board, and which is strong and durable, having spacers for the walls of the box which will withstand the rough usage to which they are put.

A further object is to provide a box with spacers that project through the walls of the box and which may be integral extensions of the inner partitions of the box.

lVith these and such other objects in view as will be apparent from the following de- -scription,the invention resides in all the novel features of construction and comblnations, hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a. perspective view of the preferred form of my shipping box for chicks, showing the spacers with the cover securing means in place; Fig.

2 is a top plan view of the box with part of the cover broken away; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on line 3-3, Fig. 2, with cover in elevated position; Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional detail views showing the cover securing means inplace before and after the s acer has been depressed by a superimposed load;

Fig. 6 a perspective detail view showing arrangement of the partition walls within the box when being assembled for use; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a box similar to the one shown in Figs. 1 and 2 without the end spacers on the partition members; Fig. 8 is a perspective detail view showing a modified form of spacer; Fig. 9 is a sectional detail view through the partition of the t pe illustrated in Fig. 8 with fragmentary s owing of the cover in place.

Describing my invention as illustrated in the drawin s and referring to the various parts by re? the box body composed of bottom wall 11 and side walls 12 and 13, which are formed from a single sheet of card board, corrugated paper board or the like, with the corners cut in the usual manner, providing extensions 14 on the two sides 13 which are bent at' right angles thereto and overlap the ends of the side walls 12 to which they are stapled or otherwise secured in the usual manner.

Each side of the box is provided with a number of knockouts 9 made by only partially cutting or perforating the material. These blanks may be punched out with ones finger at the time of using the box to provide the amount of ventilation desired, the number to be punched out depending on the number of chicks, the time of year, etc.

Within the box body 10 are partitions 16 which divide the box into four compartments. The partitions 16 are substantially alike, differing only in that one has a notch at its middle extending from the lower edge while the other has a similar slot extending downwardly from its upper edge so that the members 16 may be assembled, the continuous portion of each extending into the slot of the other. The ends of the partitions have extensions 15 which are bent laterally and are stapled or otherwise secured to the side Walls 12 and 13 of the box body.

To provide spacers which project from the top of the box so that other boxes may not rest directly on the box lid in the embodiment of my invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 7, the partition n1embers'l6 having extensions 17 projecting upward from the top erence characters, 10 designates they flatten in the manner shown in Figs. 1

j and 5 providing a flat supporting surface which will not cut through the bottom of superimposed boxes when they become damp. Other adantages for this particular type of fold will appear later in the description.

To provide spacers on the sides of the box, the top spacers are made to extend beyond the sides of the box as shown at 22 in Figs. 1 to 6. These extensions 22 may extend laterally over the top edges of the box sides, or the sides of the box may be notched as at 23 to receive the lower part of such extensions.

The cover member 25 for the box with the type of spacers above described is made of a single piece of material, the corners of which are cut in the usual manner so that' side walls 26 may be bent therefrom with extensions 27 on two of the side pieces which are secured to the adjacent side pieces after they are bent at right an les to the top portion of the cover, by 'stap es or other fastening-means. To accommodate the extensions 22 on the partitions of the box the cover for the box will not be square, but will have its sides somewhat rounded, as shown in Fig. 2, the width through the center of the cover in each direction being greater than the width of the cover at its sides. The material is scored on the desired lines to provide the shape to fit over the extensions and the sides bent and corners'fastened in the manner de scribed. The cover is also provided with a number of knockouts 29 similar to those in the sides of the box to permit circulation of the air through each compartment. To accommodate the top extensions 17 the cover is provided with slots 28 through which the spacers 17 extend. These slots 28 are made only sufliciently wide to accommodate the spacers 17 as shown in Fig. 4, so that when the top of the spacer is pressed down, it

folds along lines 20 and 21. The spacer it- Iielf tends to hold the cover in place on the To fasten the cover in place, wire clamps 30 are provided. These clamps are made with a U-shaped portion which straddles the spacer, with laterally projecting ring portions 31 which engage the cover. Projections 32 extend inwardly from each side, these projections 32 being forced into the spacers 17 by suitable pliers, or.by hand after the cover has beenput in place. As clearly 'shown in Fig. 5, when the spacers 17 are flattened under a load the top of the U-portion of these fastening members 30 will bite into the bottom of the next box superimposed thereupon and prevent shifting of the boxes relative to each other.

If desired, the side spacers 22 may be omitted, and'the cover 25 would then be rectangular in shape, as shown in Fig. 7. The construction of the partitions and top spacers 17 would be the same as described above in all other respects.

In place of making the spacers integral with the partitions 16, they may be made from separate pieces of material, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. In this modification a piece of card board, corrugated paper board or the like 35 is doubled back on itself and placed over the partition 16 with the folded portion extending above the partition 16 the desired height. These spacers may be sta-' pled to the partition or may be held in place merely by the cover, which is provided with slots through which the spacers extend, the same as in the form shown in Fig. 7.

In place of side spacers at the top of the. box, as shown in Figs. 1 to 6, they may be formed integral with the partitions 1516 or spacer 35 and project through slots in the lower part of each side, as shown in Fig. 8 at 36.

While the spacers at the sides of the box are not so essential, it is preferred by many shippers to have this added protection. Ordinarily, the thickness of the cover provides sufficient air space between the box itself and the articles against which they are stacked. I i

It is understood, of course, that this box is shipped to the users or retailers in knocked down condition as is customary with this type of boxes. The body 10 of the box is stamped and out ready to have the sides bent up and the corners stapled. The cover is likewise stamped and out ready to be bent and stapled, as shown, with the slots 28 already stamped out.

The partitions 16 are stamped out and the spacers 17 folded back and stapled prior to shipment so that they need only be slipped into place in the box and the portions 15 stapled to the sides of the box, adding no additional step in assembling over the boxes not provided with spacers. v

After the chicks have been placed in the box and the desired number of knock-outs punched out, the lid is put in position over the extensions 17, and the fastening means 30 clamp-ed into the extensions as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5.

It is obvious that other fastening means may be used, but the onesdisclosed have the additional function of preventing relative I movement of the boxes one on the other, as above described.

It is understood that the modifications disclosed are illustrative only and that my invention is not limited thereto, since it is obvious that the invention is capable of expression in other mechanical forms coming within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A paperboard shipping box for chicks including bottom, top and side walls, some of said walls having openings to permit air to pass therethrough, a partition in said box, means extending from said partition and through openings in at least one wall of said box and projecting therefrom constituting a spacer, said means comprising a strip of paperboard folded back on itself with both ends secured to said partition within said box.

2. A paperboard shipping box for chicks including bottom. top and side walls, at least one of said walls having elongated slots therein, partitions in said box and means extending from said partitions through said slots and projecting from said wall constituting spacers, said means comprising strips of paperboard bent back on itself and having at least one end secured to said partition, the slot in said wall closely fitting said spacers whereby the spacers are supported laterally thereby. v

3. A paperboard shipping box for chicks including bottom, top and side walls, said top wall having elongated slots therein, partitions in said box having extensions projecting outwardly through said slots and constituting spacers, said partitions being formed from paperboard and said extensions being folded back on themselves, the fneeends being secured to the body of said'partition.

4. In a paperboard shipping box for chicks one wall of which is provided with a slot therein, a partition formed of paperboard having an extension projecting out of said slot, said extension being integral with said partition and having a portion folded back on itself, the free end being secured to the body of said partition, the extension being scored along two parallel lines slightly spaced from each other at the fold whereby when weight is applied thereto, the top of said fold is flattened providing a seat of material width for the article superimposed theneon.

5. In a paperboard shipping box for chicks, one wall of which is provided with a slot therein, a paperboard partition in said box having a portion adapted to project out of said slot and constitute a spacer, said spacer 7 being an integral portion of said partition folded back on itself, there being two parallel scores in the paperboard at the bend whereby when the spacer has weight applied to the folded portion, it provides a relatively wide seat for the purpose described.

6. In combination with a shipping box for chicks including bottom, and side walls, a top wall adapted to be removably secured thereon, having slots therein,.a partition secured in said box, extensions on the top edge of said partition formed by bending sa1d partition over itself over which the slots in said top wall closely engage, said extensions when the top is in place pro ecting outwardly therefrom, and fastening means engaging said extensions for securing said top wall in place.

7. In a paperboard shipping box for chicks including bottom and side walls, a removable cover on said box provided with slots therein,

a partition secured in said box, extensions on said partition which project through said slots and constitute spacers on which superimposed articles may rest, and clips provided with prongs and bearing portions engaging over said extensions for securing said cover in lace.

8. A shipping box for chicks having bottom, top and side walls, some of said Walls having ventilating apertures therein and slots, partitions secured in said box having extensions projecting through said slots and folded back over themselves for spacing articles from the walls of said box when in use.

9. A shipping box including bottom, top

and side walls, some of said walls having ventilating apertures therein, partitions in said box having extensions folded back over themselves, and slots in said box through which said folded extensions project for s acing said box from other articles placed a j acent thereto.

10. A, shipping box for chicks including bottom, to and side walls, at least one of said side walls aving openings therein, partitions in said box having extensions bent back over themselves forming projections extending through said openings and projecting outwardly from said side walls providing spacers for the purposes described.

11. A shipping box for chicks including top, bottom and side Walls, and partitions in said box having portions extending through said box and bent over themselves and projecting therefrom providing spacers for the purpose described.

12. A shipping box for chicks including bottom, top and side walls, some of said side 4 walls having ventilating apertures therein,

the top wall having slots therein, partitions of pliable material in said box projecting through said slots and having extensions formed by folding the partitions back on themselves providing spacers adapted to sustain the load of other articles thereon and to hold the same spaced from the top of said box.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto atlix my signature.

ROBERT A. GORSUCH. 

